Chance Jennings, Cornell Johnson MBA Class of 2028
Age: 36
Hometown: Roxbury, CT
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Trinity College, History
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Media Buyer – Global Marketing, Music Industry, Universal Music Group, 3 years; Senior Media Planner, Advertising, Situation Interactive, 1 Year; Media Analyst, Advertising, Gupta Media, 1.5 Years; Artist Manager, Music Industry, Self-employed, 6 Years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
For me, attending business school felt like a natural next step in expanding my skill set and building on my professional experience. I’ve spent much of my career developing paid marketing strategies in-house at Universal Music Group as well as for clients through ad agency roles, which has given me a strong foundation in using both creative and analytical thinking to solve marketing challenges. At this point in my career, however, I wanted to broaden the scope of the problems I’m equipped to solve and develop a more holistic approach to strategy.
Business school gives me the opportunity to build on my existing experience while learning new frameworks for approaching complex business problems across functions and industries. It is also a chance to step outside of my day-to-day expertise and add new problem-solving tools to my toolkit. After several years of developing depth within marketing and media, this felt like the right time to broaden that perspective and prepare myself to tackle challenges at a more strategic level.
Why did you choose Cornell? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
My wife is a graduate of Johnson’s MBA program, so I’ve spent a significant amount of time up in Ithaca around the Cornell Johnson program, where I was able to see the program through her eyes and built great friendships with many of her classmates. I think the close-knit community at Cornell Johnson is second-to-none, and the school does a wonderful job of fostering the unique characteristics that separate it from other MBA programs. I think at Johnson, the students get the kind of support and care from both their fellow classmates and the administration that allows them to be a unique part of the community rather than just a nameless individual passing through the program.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
Most of my career has been spent in entertainment marketing, which isn’t a background you see every day in an MBA classroom. I’ve had the opportunity to work on campaigns for major artists, where I’ve learned how to make decisions in fast-moving environments where there is often not a perfect answer. I hope I can share that perspective while picking up completely new ways of thinking from classmates with backgrounds in consulting, finance, tech, healthcare, and beyond.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I’m passionate about track and field! In both college and high school, I competed in track and field and was pole vaulter throughout my athletic career.
Post-MBA career interests:
Post-MBA I am targeting a role in management consulting, ideally with the opportunity to focus on the media and entertainment industry.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I think finding school fit is very important when evaluating which MBA program to attend. For me, I was able to get detailed insight on a variety of MBA programs from individuals I’m close with who had attended those business schools themselves. I think having some candid conversations about experiences at business school from those in my own network was tremendously beneficial to me.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
If I could change one thing, I would have started my engagement with individual schools and their communities earlier in the process. There is only so much you can learn about an MBA program from rankings, websites, and other resources. Beyond my own network, some of the most valuable information I gained came from speaking directly with students and alumni and learning about their day-to-day experiences. Starting those conversations earlier would have helped me develop a clearer picture of what I valued in an MBA program sooner and approach the application process with an even stronger sense of where I would be the best fit.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
Properly preparing for the standardized testing required for MBA applications while working full time was a tremendous effort in time management for me. It’s easy to fall into the trap of consistently prioritizing the demands of your pre-MBA role over your test preparation, but the exam deadlines will sneak up faster than you expect. I found that I had to mentally weight my exam preparation as if it was a deliverable in my job to ensure I kept on track.
What is your initial impression of the Cornell students/culture/community?
My initial impression has been just how welcoming and collaborative the Cornell community is. Even within the first few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know classmates from an incredibly wide range of professional and personal backgrounds. There is a strong sense that people genuinely want to help one another succeed, and the community is warm and tightly knit. It has made the transition back to school feel very natural.
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’ve joined the Johnson Consulting Club, Corporate Leadership Club, Media, Entertainment & Sports Club, Ski Club, and Johnson Outdoor Ventures Club. I joined the professional clubs to explore strategy-focused career paths in both consulting and corporate settings, while also connecting with classmates who share similar professional interests. At the same time, I wanted to take full advantage of Cornell’s beautiful Upstate New York location, so I’m excited to get outdoors and participate in the Ski Club and Johnson Outdoor Ventures.
What is one thing you have learned about Cornell that has surprised you?
One thing that has surprised me is just how much there is to explore beyond Johnson. Cornell is an enormous university, but the campus still feels remarkably connected. Through classes, events and student organizations there are a wealth of opportunities to engage with parts of the university that I might never otherwise encounter. I’m excited to take advantage of that broader Cornell ecosystem during my time here.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I’m most excited about the opportunity to push myself outside of my existing areas of expertise. Professionally, I’m particularly looking forward to the Strategy and Consulting Immersion and developing a broader set of problem-solving skills as I prepare for consulting recruiting.
